11.7million passengers conveyed by rail on Lagos–Kano route-Transport Minister

[FMINigeria]

                        About 11,774,181 passengers were conveyed by rail on the Lagos to Kano route from 2009 to April 2013, Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar has said.

In the Minister's presentation on the Mid-Term Achievements of the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration delivered at the opening of the 2013 Ministerial Platform on Monday in Abuja, a total of 1,285,080 passengers were said to have been conveyed by rail on the Lagos to Kano route in 2009. Also, in 2010, 2011, 2012 and January to April 2013, the number of passengers on the route rose to 1,514,215, 3,493,443, 4,155,988 and 1,325,455 respectively.

According to Senator Umar, the Federal Government's determination to revive and modernize the Railway System is in line with its 25 year Strategic Vision, which he explained is a systematic dual approach entailing the Rehabilitation of the entire existing narrow gauge lines simultaneously with the development of standard gauge lines.

In implementing that Strategic Vision, the Transport Minister informed that the rehabilitation of over 90 percent of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country is on-going and at various stages of completion. "The rehabilitation is the first segment of the 25 years railway strategic vision", Umar stated.

He said the main Western Rail line, the 1,124 kilometers Lagos – Kano is completed and passenger services and haulage of goods along the line were flagged off in December, 2012, while the Eastern line, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, 1,657 kilometers is expected to be completed before the end of 2013.

In addition, the Contract for the Rehabilitation of Apapa Port Railway Network and Signal Works which is made up of double track of 1.5 kilometers each was executed by Nigeria Ports Authority in the sum of 860,657,797.23 naira and completed in November, 2012.

To scale up the capacity of the country's rail system to haul goods and passengers, the Transport Minister disclosed that 25 Nos. GE Locomotives, 3 Nos. Rail Inspection Vehicles, 20 Nos. Pressurized Tank Wagons, 5 Nos. Rail Recovery Vehicles, Covered Wagons, Hopper Wagons were procured.

Also procured were Open Wagons, Passenger Coaches, 4 Nos. CNR Locomotives which are expected in July 2013 while 2 Nos. 100 Tons Telescopic Rail Crane arrived in April 2013.

The Minister also said 2 Sets of Diesel Multiple Units and 6 Nos. 68 Seater Coaches are expected in December this year.

Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku pointed out that with Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and the return of the railways, Nigeria is due to benefit from the Federal Government's development efforts. "Since 1964, no new rail tracks have been developed. This has weakened road networks because of heavy equipment and other usages," Maku observed.

The Minister further described the construction of the Ibadan – Lagos modern rail line as the most impressive development in the period.

Mr. Maku said the 2013 Ministerial Platform is a score card for 2 years of performance. "Last year brought every Minister to come and face Nigerians to present their scorecards and hear from Nigerians all over the world. I call on all Nigerians to assess us. We must thank President Goodluck Jonathan for opening up his government for scrutiny by all Nigerians", the Minister said.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria